Category: Life in the US

Zoe and I are still working on establishing a routine that will give me the time to devote to updating the blog.

I compiled four WWAM birthing experiences, including my own. Some of the ladies gave birth in China, one in the UK and my experience took place in the U.S. We talk about 坐月子, the Chinese tradition of postpartum confinement.

There were quite a few unrelated WWAM experiences I had during my pregnancy and labor and delivery so there will be another post on this blog about that (I know I said I won’t turn into a mommy blogger and such posts will be limited).

I also know I’ve touted the collective WWAMBam! blog numerous times here, but if you haven’t checked it out yet, head over there to read an array of WWAM content from Western Women married to Asian Men. Most still live in China (I believe there’s a new contributer who lives in S. Korea with her S. Korean husband).

It’s inspiring that such a collective exists, where not only group posts get many people contributing their stories, but the original contributers provide support for those of us less WordPress savvy bloggers (yes, that’s me!) as well as edit posts. Can’t complain about the chance to have another set of eyes glancing over my work.

I’m fairly smitten with the birthing experience I had and really look forward to hearing from you, my readers either here or on the WWAMBam! post.

I’ll eventually be writing details about the natural hospital birth experience. I wasn’t regularly posting prior to Baby so I’m not going to make any more promises about when this blog will be regularly updated. I also don’t want this blog to turn into a mommy one so stay patient while I figure out “motherhood” and keep checking back.

A sneak peek of some shots a coworker took of us last Sunday at Bismarck’s Art Alley and Keelboat Park overlooking the Missouri River. Photos at the park feature the Old Railroad Bridge looming in the background. Art alley in downtown Bismarck showcases local artists and art students’ paintings of the brick wall facade with a variety of murals. The coworker, a photographer at the paper, plans to take a few more photographs in other iconic places around town before Baby Z arrives. These were taken around dusk so I didn’t include any taken at the state Capitol grounds, when night began enveloping us. The state Capitol houses Bismarck’s “skyscraper,” the tallest building in town.

See you all next Sunday for a post more aligned to the cultural side of this blog.

It’s all at stake when choosing a name for your soon-to-be child. The stakes are doubled when bringing two cultures into the mix. In our case, quadrupled because we’re tasked with finding names for both genders. No one to blame but my stubborn self for not wanting to know…there’s not enough surprises left in life, at least that’s what I keep telling myself.

I could use the age-old excuse of being “too busy” to write, but that’s not really the case. Lacking self-discipline to carve out time for writing each day and not holding myself accountable because “hey, I’m pregnant” sounds like a legitimate excuse to that pesky, inner critic are the main factors holding me back.

Also, placing blame on burnout from work where eight hours of my day is spent in front of a screen, either reading, editing and proofing copy, sounds good to me.

However, in the earlier hours of my day, I’m not stepping away from the screen, instead indulging in Netflix, an occasional podcast and catching up on conversations in various WeChat groups.

Putting creative endeavors on the back burner won’t work any longer, I’m afraid. When Baby Z arrives in about two months, give or take a week or two, beginning a writing routine will pose a greater challenge.

There’s so many ideas, too many in fact, I have for this space (there are 30 drafts in various stages of despair). I’ll also resume accepting guest posts. Do you have a blog of your own? I’d be much obliged to guest post there, too.

Here’s to breaking the blog silence, resuming an outlet and reconnecting with a thriving, growing niche blogging community.